Small Home, Big Heart: A Visit to Alexis Lodge

You cannot talk about the magic of Alexis Lodge without first talking about its visionary founder and director, Christiana Egi. The unfiltered passion she has for Alexis Lodge is like no other I have encountered. She told me during our conversation that she effectively “eats and breathes dementia,” and that reality quickly became very clear to me. Arriving at Alexis Lodge didn’t feel like walking into a healthcare facility; instead, it felt like I was attending a warm family party in a loved one’s house, with plenty of dancing, laughing, and celebrating. My visit came on the heels of a monthly visit from dancers with Canada’s National Ballet School, and also in attendance were the local Member of Provincial Parliament and other community members. I was immediately welcomed by everyone and encouraged to interact with all the guests. It didn’t take me long to understand that Alexis Lodge is a very special place that prioritizes human connection over clinical protocol.

Beyond the Institution: A Place That Feels Like Home

Alexis Lodge first opened in 1999, and it is a small retirement living home located in Scarborough that is dedicated solely to people living with dementia. It is unlike any of the other homes I have visited, starting with the physical building itself. The residence consists of two houses sitting side by side which are attached but currently not connected on the inside. At one point in their history, they would’ve had families living in them and Alexis Lodge continues that authentic family feeling today. One house accommodates ten residents and the other houses eleven residents.

Each house is similar to a typical family home in that the residents have their own private bedrooms, then there are communal spaces for everyone to enjoy together: one bathroom per one or two residents, a shared kitchen, multiple sitting rooms, and a central dining room. The bedrooms are various sizes, shapes, and styles, and the residents are always welcome and encouraged to decorate them to make them feel like their own. There is also a spacious backyard which I could imagine being a very popular spot in the warmer months for gardening or fresh air, despite it being covered in a thick layer of snow when I visited. Most of the bedrooms are located upstairs; however, there are a limited number of bedrooms on the main floor which would be suitable for residents with mobility restrictions as there is currently no elevator at Alexis Lodge.

Dignity Without Deadlines: A Radical Approach to Care

Alexis Lodge provides specialized Memory Care to all of its residents and the approach to care is truly person-centered. There is no “one size fits all” method of caring for the residents and there are no strict or rigid schedules that must be followed. The pricing structure is such that it is total care for everyone and the care price is completely all-inclusive from day one. The total cost is much less expensive than Memory Care found elsewhere, and once a resident moves in, their monthly fees will never increase for the duration of their stay. This is just one example demonstrating Christiana’s deep passion for meeting the needs of the residents and treating them like family.

There is a dedicated doctor who comes to the home once per month and is also available on call 24 hours per day. For those residents who are accessing care from Ontario Health at Home, Alexis Lodge has a cluster care model whereby there is one PSW from OHH assisting the staff with providing care to the residents. There is a consistent staff presence at all times, including the head cook who has been with Alexis Lodge for almost 20 years! She is responsible for making all the food for the residents with the help of other staff and even some residents, ensuring it is safe and dignified for them to do so. This is a prime example of making sure the residents are stimulated and participating in daily activities that interest them. The staff members speak a wide variety of languages, which makes Alexis Lodge uniquely welcoming for residents of various cultural backgrounds. Of course, the spoken language isn’t the only way they communicate. They also communicate love through everything they do: dance, sharing food, activities, smiles, and physical hugs.

In terms of the activities for the residents, I was very impressed with the flexibility offered. The residents congregate in the shared spaces as they please and are free to come and go into their bedrooms at any time. This approach really caters to the individual needs and whims of the residents. For example, there are set meal times; however, there is flexibility in terms of when people actually eat. If someone wants to sleep in and not come to breakfast right away, then that is completely acceptable and they can have their food whenever they are ready. Christiana and the rest of the staff set the tone in the home with plenty of dancing, games, and laughter, but they never force anyone to participate. It is guided by what the residents want to do – I saw two women sitting at the dining room table together looking at photos, while others were watching TV in the living room and others were simply up and about.

Most of my time at Alexis Lodge was on one side of the house, but when I visited the second side, it also felt like a true home. One resident was napping peacefully on the couch while others were watching television. I had a lovely chat with another who told me about his time as a teacher many years ago, and another resident had written several books. It was a reminder that these are people with interesting and full lives and that we must not let the dementia diagnoses define who they are. 

As care needs increase, Alexis Lodge is able to provide palliative and comfort care, including IV care with support. They have one Hoyer lift for residents with mobility challenges, though they cannot support G-tube feeding. If a resident has to go to the hospital for more acute care, Alexis Lodge is still there for them. Christiana makes daily visits to see the residents in hospital and is always a fierce advocate for them to return home to Alexis Lodge as soon as appropriate. Respite care is also provided at Alexis Lodge when they have a room available, for a minimum of one month.

Overall Impressions of Alexis Lodge: Final Thoughts on a Special Community

I was very fortunate to spend plenty of time with Christiana which allowed me to learn about her background and the long history of Alexis Lodge. Her commitment and passion for caring for people with dementia is truly admirable and rare. She lit up when telling me about past residents and their personal stories, just like she was talking about her own family members. And some of the families have become like family to her now, even long after the resident has passed away. Christiana writes books and speaks at events of her dreams for the future in which this home-like care can be brought to more people. I learned on my visit that Alexis Lodge is also a training ground for new PSWs—this is a testament to the amazing, outside-the-box care that they provide and it’s important for people learning about dementia care to keep an open mind in terms of the approach to care. While Alexis Lodge is very small compared to other retirement homes, the care provided is like none other. As they say on their website, “Small Home. Big Care.” and this is exactly my feeling after visiting Alexis Lodge.